Adjustable stroke press



April 16, 1935. w. KLOCKE ADJUSTABLE STROKE PRESS Filed-April 14, 1954 1 w VHW/Mm:

0 m E V N 1 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STROKE PRESS I William Klocke,

Woodhaven, N. Y.

Application April 14, 1934, Serial lie-120,552

3 Claims.

This invention relates to presses or the like, and more particularly to the slide-actuating mechanism thereof, and provides improvements therein.

It has heretofore been proposed tov provide in a press means for adjusting the stroke. of the slide, so that a single press, instead of having a stroke of but one length, may be made to have more than one length of stroke. The. press-user with such a press may select one of a number of stroke-lengths permitted by the adjustmentmeans which is best suited to the work which he wishes to do from time to time, and thus enjoy an advantage comparable to having at his command a number of presses having different strokes.

The means previously employed usually re.- qu-ire substitution of parts, or dis-assembling some part or parts of the press to make the ad.- justment- In many, the constructions are not well conceived from the. stand-point of standin up under the working strains encountered in press-operation, and are not amenable to ready adjustment.

, A plurality of superposed eccentrics; which are relatively movable to vary the combined throw thereof one. of which is on a. shaft, has heretofore been. employed as part of the actuating means for press-slides, or the like. Novelmeans are provided by the present invention for locking such adjustable eccentrics together in various relative positions thereof, which locking means comprises segmental notches running across the faces of eccentrics. which are in bearing-contact, and constituting complemental parts of a circle, the segmental notch in one eccentric being larger than its complemental notches in the other eccentric; and a key having a segmental portion which occupies the larger segmental notch, in one of its positions, and which occupies one or another of the smaller segmental notches and a substantial portion of the larger segmental notch when. turned through 180, thereby locking the eccentrics so that they are securely held against relative movement when the shaft in which the eccentrics are mounted is turned in either direction. The key may further comprise two segmental. portions-ex larger one, as described, and a smaller one ofa size which corresponds to that of the smaller segmental notches, so that when the two segmental key-portions together occupy complemental notches, the entire space. within the. notches is occupied and deflection of the larger segmental key-portion, when it occupies a position. in both notches and a powerful force is transmitted through the eccentrics, is prevented. Key-segments corresponding to the smaller key-segment may be provided in each of the smaller notches, to change places with andto act-the part of. the smaller key-segment. described above, at each-of the. adjusted positions of the eccentrics. I The present invention. provides. a slide actuating mechanism. in which the parts of the strokeadiusting means which sustain the stresses particularly the stresses on the laboring-part of the working stroke. have an area of contact comparable to the area ofcontact of the slide-actuating shaft in its" bearings, and in which the parts which sustain the torque are of. such character as to virtually eliminate failure under stress; the mechanism is simple, strong and reliable,- and sustains the driving torques with equal ability when applied in either direction. V

The invention further provides a slide-actuat- 20 ing mechanism which adjustments of the stroke-adjusting. means may be effected. without substituting or. dis-assembling any part of the press or of the slide-actuatingmechanism, and with. relative ease and speed.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw-ingywherein Fig. 1. is a View partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of parts of the slideactuating mechanism of the: press;

I Fig. 2 is a view, at right; angles to Fig. 1, partly in elevation and partlyin section;

Fig. 3 is asectional view illustrating the mode of adjustment;v

Fig. i is a view in perspective of the locking Referring to said drawing, numerals l0 and t2 designatea plurality of eccentrics (here shown as two), and It a shaftor other suitable means for driving the eccentrics. The eccentrics Ill and t2 bear upon one another, as indicated at 16, and are relatively movable so that the combined throw of the eccentrics with relation to the axis of rotation, may be adjusted, as hereinafter more fully explained. The eccentric I2 next to the shaft M is preferably formed as an enlargement or integralpart of said shaft, as shown. The slide is conveniently actuated from the eccentrics by means of a conecting rod 20 (part of which is shown) having a strap 22 surrounding the eccentrics and in which the eccentrics turn. In a cam-type-of-press the strapcould be. omitted. 1

Duringnormal operation the shaft I4 and the eccentrics turn as a unit, and a means is pro- 5 vided for locking them together in various relative positions thereof, each locked position corresponding to a different length of stroke of the slide-actuating mechanism. The locking means comprises a key 25, and notches in two eccentrics of a pair immediately related to one another, the eccentrics I and I2 in the embodiment illustrated, these being in immediate contact. One of the eccentrics, as the eccentric I2 has at least one notch 30 formed therein, and the other eccentric has a plurality of notches formed therein as indicated at 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The notches 30, 32 etc, are segmental, and complemental, that is the notch 30 and notch 32 (or 33, 34, 35 or 36) are complemental segmental parts of a circle. The segmental notch 30 is larger than each of the complemental segmental notches 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. The key 25 in its locking position occupies two notches in register, as for example 30 and 32, or the notch 30 and one or another of the notches 33 to 36.

The means for locking the eccentrics is so made that the position of the eccentrics may be changed, to adjust the stroke, without dis-assembling any part of the press or slide-actuating mechanism. To this end, the key 25 and the notches 36 to 36 inclusive are formed so that the key may be turned or rotated in the notches, and the key is provided with an eccentric segmental portion 40, which in the locking-position shown in Fig. 1, occupies two notches in register (notches 30, 32), and in the unlocking position (Fig. 3) occupies space in only one notch (notch 30, Fig. 3), the profile of its face 42 preferably conforming to the contiguous face of the related eccentric (i. e. to the profile of the common plane I6).

The key 25 is preferably made as a split key comprising the larger eccentric segmental portion 40, and a smaller complemental segmental portion 44, as illustrated, the key being shown in detail in Fig. 4. The split is along the line or plane common to the related eccentrics I0 and I2, so that the portion 44, in the unlocking position of the key, is wholly within one notch, as for example notch 32, as shown in Fig. 3. Relative movement between the'key parts 40 and 44, in the unlocking position of the key is thereby made possible. 7

The key 25 is provided with a portion 46, by which it may be manipulated or turned. When the key extends across the eccentrics, as shown in Fig. 2, the portion 46 extends beyond the sides of the eccentrics, and the portion 46 is conveniently provided with sockets or holes 48, spaced at 90, into which a pin may be inserted for turning the key.

Means are preferably provided for confining the eccentrics against lateral displacement. These means are preferably collars 50, fixed upon the shaft and projecting alongside of the eccentrics. The part 46 of the key extends into a collar, and in order that the sockets 43 in the key may be reached, a slot or opening 55 may be provided in the peripheral face of the collar, the length of the slot being corresponding to the angular distance between the sockets 48.

Means are also preferably provided for looking the key in its locking position. This means is conveniently in the form of a set-screw 51, the end of which is arranged to bind the key, the key conveniently being formed with a portion 60 opposite the portion 46, and being provided with a counter-sunk hole 62 for receiving the end of the set-screw 51'.

The portions 46,

66 of the key may be made full round, and seat in recess partially in the collar 50 and partially in that part of the shaft forming the eccentric I2 and to which the collar is fastened.

Numeral l0 designates scratch marks on the eccentric I 0 related to each of the notches 32 to 36 and the registering of any notch 32 to 36 with the notch is facilitated by bringing these marks I0 into register with a mark I2 related to the notch 30. A mark I5 may be provided on the key 25 for indicating its locking and unlocking position in the notches.

Each notch 32 to 36 inclusive is preferably provided witha segmental key-portion similar to 44, so that the eccentric segmental portion of the key 25 finds a complemental segmental part 44 ateach notch 32 to 36. The advantage of this is that any two notches in register are filled by the key (parts 40 and 44) and the key part 40 is consequently sustained and reinforced against springing? or bending under heavy impacts to be encountered in press-use. The portion of the eccentric I2 facing the notch 36 on the side where the strains and impacts are concentrated may be reinforced with a hard and tough piece of steel 80 inset in the eccentric.

Spanner-notches 84 may be formed in'eccentric I 0 so that a spanner-wrench may be used on eccentric Ill to turn it relatively to eccentric I2, in making adjustments.

Operation The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it being desired to change the length of the stroke of the press, the locking key 25 is turned to move its eccentric segmental portion 40 into segmental notch 30. In the embodiment illustrated the face 42 of key 25 will be flush with the plane or' surfaces of contact of the related pair of eccentrics I0, I 2, (Fig. 3). The line of split between the segmental parts 40, 44, of a key 25 so formed, will likewise coincide with said plane or surfaces of contact. The turning of the key may be effected by a pin projected into the sockets 48 through the opening or slot 55 and to unlock the eccentrics I0, I2, the key is turned to bring the key 25 to the unlocking position. Marks I5 may be employed to indicate the locking and unlocking positions of the key. With the key 25 in the unlocking position, the eccentric I0 is turned relative to the eccentric I2, thus varying the distance of its center CC to the axis of rotation C, and thereby adjusting the throw of the eccentrics and consequently the stroke of the press. (The position of the parts during the turning of eccentric ID on I2 is shown in Fig. 3)

By such turning, one or another of the smaller segmental notches 32-36 (corresponding to the length of the stroke desired) is brought into registry with larger segmental slot 30 containing key 25, such registry being indicated by the marks I0, 12. The eccentrics I0 and I2 are then locked in their adjusted position by turning corresponding segmental key 25 (by the pin as previously described) to a position where the eccentric segmental portion 40 of the key occupies a position in each of the notches in register (position shown in Fig. 1). The driving force or torque on eccentric I2 will then be transmitted through the key 25 to the eccentric I0, and the two will turn as a unit.

When any of the notches 32 to 36, inclusive, provided with the key-part 44 is moved out of register with notch 30, and another is moved into register, the key-part 40 philanders, figuratively Cal speaking, finding in the notch which is moved into register a counter-part of the part 44 in the notch which has been moved out of register. The key 25 turns to and from locking position with a part 44 of one notch of the series 32-36 the same as it does with a part 44 of another notch.

While the key is associated with a part 44 of one notch, the other parts are meanwhile ensconced in their respective notches and serve to provide a full bearing surface for the eccentric It] on the eccentric l2. Such a bearing surface is approximately equal in area to the bearing area of the shaft l 4.

The set-screw 51 is backed off from key 25 to allow it to be turned, and. set against the key to lock it in its locking position.

The invention may receive other embodiments than that herein specifically illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In slide actuating mechanism for presses or the like comprising a shaft having thereon a plurality of superposed eccentrics having contacting bearing surfaces, which eccentrics are relatively movable to vary the combined throw thereof, and means for locking said eccentrics together in various relative positions thereof, characterized by the locking means comprising at least one segmental notch running across the face of an eccentric which is in bearing-contact with another, and a plurality of segmental notches running across the face of said other eccentric, the segments constituting complemental parts of a circle, and the segmental notch in one eccentric being larger than its complemental notches in the other eccentric, and a key having a segmental portion which occupies the larger segmental notch, in one of its positions, and which occupies one or another of the smaller segmental notches and a substantial portion of the larger segmental notch, when turned through 180.

2. In slide actuating mechanism for presses or the like comprising a shaft having thereon a plurality of superposed eccentrics, which eccentrics having contacting bearing surfaces are relatively movable to vary the combined throw thereof, and means for locking said eccentrics together in various relative positions thereof, characterized by the locking means comprising at least one segmental notch running across the face of an eccentric which is in bearing-contact with another, and a plurality of segmental notches running across the face of said other eccentric, the segments constituting complemental parts of a circle, and the segmental notch in one eccentric being larger than its complemental notches in the other eccentric, and a key havingtwo segmental portions, a larger one which occupies the larger segmental notch and a smaller one which occupies the smaller segmental notch, in one of its positions, the larger key-segment occupying one or another of the smaller segmental notches and a substantial portion of the larger segmental notch, and the smaller key segment occupying the remaining portion of the larger segmental notch, when the key is turned through 180, and supplemental segmental key portions corresponding to the aforesaid smaller segmental key portion occupying the smaller segmental notches.

3. Means according to claim 1 further characterized by the larger key-segment having cylindrical ends and. circumferentially spaced notches 01' the like therein for successive engagement by a tool so that 180 turning movements may be imparted to the key for effecting adjustments of the eccentrics.

WILLIAM KLOCKE. 

